Breathing smog from Canadian wildfires is ‘like smoking 22 cigarettes’

Air in New York City is “dangerous,” according to the US government’s online platform AirNowwho has warned everyone to stay indoors and reduce activity levels.

Air quality alerts are in effect for more than 100 million people in the US.

Thick smoke from northern Canadian wildfires descended on New York this week, leaving a fiery smell and visible smog in the city.

A online calculator Breathing the air in New York City for 24 hours is equivalent to smoking 22 cigarettes.

The Environmental Protection Agency uses the Air Quality Index (AQI) on AirNow to report air quality.

It ranges from zero to over 300, with levels of 50 and below considered the healthiest.

An AQI value above 100 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

When levels exceed 150, the general population may experience symptoms.

Anything over 300 is dangerous (current air quality in New York City is 392).

Dr. John Balmes, a pulmonologist at the University of California, San Francisco, told DailyMail.com, “Biomass smoke from wildfires is very similar to tobacco smoke, without the nicotine. Tobacco is biomass; it is vegetative material, so it is very similar.

“Everything depends on the dose. 392 AQI is very bad. Healthy people should also stay indoors as much as possible, and if you have to go outside, wear a well-filtering respirator, such as an N95.’

Inhaling this for 24 hours is the same as smoking 22 cigarettes, the online calculator claimed.

This can cause damage to the airways and the small air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs.

The calculator uses PM 2.5 particle concentration – the number of particles in the air of a given size.

The health impact of a particle concentration of 22 μg/m3 per 24 hours corresponds to approximately one cigarette.

Yesterday, tech company IQAir, which tracks air quality and pollution worldwide, claimed that New York City had the worst air quality of any major city in the world.

City officials have said the smoke could linger for several days, while Washington DC has issued a code red due to air quality for the first time since 2011.

What Are the Health Risks of the Wildfire Smoke?

Fine particles known as ‘PM 2.5’ have been detected from Canadian wildfire smoke, which are small enough to enter the airways and cause breathing difficulties and irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs.

Long-term exposure to such air pollution can lead to chronic health problems such as severe asthma, premature birth, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, dementia and lower IQ in children.

Smog can be particularly bad for young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. The risk of respiratory infections is also increased.

Air pollution particles enter the airways when inhaled through the mouth and nose and can cause inflammation.

Inflammation increases the airway’s sensitivity to irritants such as allergens and can damage or kill cells.

Airway inflammation can also reduce lung function. Some particles are so small that they can pass through the lungs into the bloodstream.

Dr. Balmes said, “Most healthy people will have no problem other than symptoms of eye, nose and throat irritation, and maybe some coughing.”

But he added: “There is a risk of respiratory infections. If you are exposed to a virus and you are exposed to wildfire smoke, you are more likely to get the virus than if there were no wildfire smoke in the air. But most of the effects are in people with pre-existing heart and lung disease.’

What should I do to protect myself?

The U.S. government’s online air quality platform recommends that everyone should stay indoors and be less active.

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens are most at risk.

Brady Scott, a fellow with the American Association for Respiratory Care, a professional organization for respiratory therapists, shared NBC he advised people to stay indoors as much as possible and to keep windows and doors closed.

Those with asthma should monitor their symptoms closely and make sure they have medications on hand.

Scott said, “People know their bodies very well. If they see changes that they think are related to bad air, they may need to contact a doctor or an advanced practice specialist.”

Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist with the Allergy & Asthma Network, an advocacy group for people with asthma, allergies and related conditions, said smoking can be especially bad for pregnant women, as their lung capacity has already been reduced due to their expanding stomachs. .

She also said people should keep their homes well ventilated and those who must go outside should wear a mask or N95 respirator.

If people cough, experience difficulty breathing, chest pain or wheezing or hear a whistling sound in the chest, they should seek medical attention, said Dr Parikh.

Professor Rebecca Saari, who studies the impact of climate change and climate policy on human health at the University of Waterloo, advised people to “use filtration (for example, with a central HVAC system with an air filter or with an indoor air purifier).

“If you can’t avoid exposure otherwise, consider a properly fitted N95 mask, which offers protection against smoke particles.”

Dr. Mark Shapiro, a California hospital physician, recommended that people also wash their hands and face.

What should I not do?

People are advised not to go outside and to reschedule outdoor activities.

Exercising should not be done outdoors, as this puts even more strain on the lungs.

Dr. Balmes said exercise is “the worst thing you can do when there’s poor air quality.”

He said: ‘If you run or cycle and do it so hard that you do mouth breathing, then firstly you avoid the nose, which filters particles and secondly you increase the amount of air you breathe. which increases the dose of the particles.’

Dr. Wynne Armand, a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate director of the MGH Center for the Environment and Health, said people shouldn’t dust or mow the lawn when the air quality is low.

Burning candles or using a gas stove can make symptoms worse, as these are also asthma triggers.